Art has been a tremendous healing benefit for me during my healing journey.
After years of #dissociation / from my body / & separating myself / from the world, / I picked up a camera. / It made me slow down / & start seeing. / It brought things close, / let the images / slide past my / barriers / and flow into / my heart / to rekindle what I had / forgotten–wonder and joy
In recent years, I have explored indigo ink dyeing, silk painting, fluid art painting with acrylics, handprint acrylics, and tie-dying.
I did not learn about Art Therapy as a form of psychological therapy until I had finished my work with therapists. My art explorations were my own personal exploration of the healing abilities of art.
But knowing now what I have learned about Art Therapy, I think it would have been a very good practice for me to engage in with a trained professional.
The video below has a great introduction to Art Therapy and helps dispel some of the misconceptions about what it involves.
Katya Simonsen shares her experience of “Art is Therapy” that we can relate to as survivors.
